J. Wang et Rg. Carpentier, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC IN-VITRO EFFECTS OF COCAINE AND ITS METABOLITES, International journal of cardiology, 46(3), 1994, pp. 235-242
We studied the in-vitro electrophysiologic effects of equimolar concen
trations of cocaine and its metabolites on rat cardiac tissues. The ef
fects on the sinus node rate were studied in spontaneously active sino
atrial preparations. The order of magnitude of the effects was: ethylc
ocaine > cocaine > benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester > ecgonin
e. The effects of cocaine and ethylcocaine were not additive. The acti
ons of cocaine and ethylcocaine on membrane potentials were studied in
papillary muscles driven at 5 Hz. Both compounds depressed to similar
degrees the resting potential and the amplitude of the action potenti
al, and increased the duration of the action potential. Simultaneous e
xposure to the two drugs did not result in effects greater than those
of ethylcocaine or cocaine alone. It is concluded that (a) cocaine and
its metabolites depressed the sinus node rate. Only cocaine and ethyl
cocaine exerted actions that may be of clinical significance. (b) Ethy
lcocaine had an effect greater than that of cocaine on the sinus node
rate, and similar to that of the parent compound on ventricular membra
ne potentials. Thus, ethylcocaine may play a significant role in the c
ardiac electrophysiologic actions of cocaine, when the latter is used
in combination with ethanol. (c) The effects of cocaine and ethylcocai
ne were not additive.